Answer

Answer by: Poley, Darren

From the Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.) online:

14.253Bible chapter and verse

References to the Jewish or Christian scriptures usually appear in text citations or notes rather than in bibliographies. Parenthetical or note references to the Bible should include book (in roman and usually abbreviated), chapter, and verse—never a page number. A colon is used between chapter and verse. Note that the traditional abbreviations use periods but the shorter forms do not. For guidance on when to abbreviate and when not to, see 10.46. For full forms and abbreviations, see 10.48, 10.49, 10.50.

Traditional abbreviations:

4. 1 Thess. 4:11, 5:2–5, 5:14.

5. Heb. 13:8, 13:12.

6. Gen. 25:19–36:43.

Shorter abbreviations:

7. 2 Sm 11:1–17, 11:26–27; 1 Chr 10:13–14.

8. Jo 5:9–12; Mt 26:2–5.

14.254Versions of the Bible

Since books and numbering are not identical in different versions, it is essential to identify which version is being cited. For a work intended for general readers, the version should be spelled out, at least on first occurrence. For specialists, abbreviations may be used throughout. For abbreviations of versions, see 10.51.